Enstrom 480
The Enstrom 480 is a light turbine helicopter with a three-blade rotor and a roomy cabin for its class. It was designed for training, police, and private missions, offering turbine reliability in a compact package. Its production numbers remain modest compared with Bell and Robinson competitors.

Did you know?
Enstrom designed the 480 for a 1980s US Army turbine-trainer contest; after losing that competition, it entered civilian service in 1993.
Specifications
| Length | 9.1 m (30 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 4 |
| Persons on board | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.2 t |
| Range | 300 NM (556 km) |
| Maximum speed | 130 kt (241 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 340 l |
| Engines | 1x Rolls-Royce 250-C20W |
| Units built | 90 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Enstrom 480 starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Enstrom, the 480 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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